The engagement in DR — it was an adventure,” says model, actress, and artist Nazanin “Naz” Mandi. “For sure, it was an adventure. Long story short, we were there for a week – right? Probably, the fifth day there I drank the water, and I got really sick.”

“This was early!” the Grammy Award–winning singer Miguel Pimentel interjects when he realises that his longtime love is launching into the tale of how the two became engaged. “She just passed out; the sun is starting to come up. She’s completely knocked out… drool coming down her face. I was like, ‘Aw, poor thing.’”

“I think you’re being dramatic,” Naz says with a laugh.

“So, you know, I kind of slide out stealthily,” Miguel explains. “Grab the ring, get her hand, and delicately slide it on and then get back in bed until she wakes up. It takes her a minute to notice it and then she notices it.”

14 Nov 2018She and Miguel met back when they were both 18 years old. She was interviewing him for a behind-the-scenes DVD he was putting out to promote his very first music video. “I asked him a question that wasn’t on my Q&A, which was: ‘All the ladies want to know, do you have a girlfriend?’ And he smiled and said, ‘No, but I’m looking for one.’ We exchanged numbers, and he called me the next day to ask me out on a date… and ever since then, it’s been one hell of a ride!”

Most recently, that ride has included a whirlwind of wedding planning, from florals and cake to the last dress fitting at Monique Lhuillier. “I always knew I wanted Monique Lhuillier to design my wedding dress for the ceremony,” Naz explains. “Something form-fitting and lace with a long train. My veil is a classic Spanish-style mantilla.” After the ceremony, the bride changed into a reception outfit designed by Carly Cushnie. “We went with classic cuts with a modern edge,” Naz says. She also wore Cushnie for the rehearsal dinner, that time opting for a sleek, sexy pantsuit. Meanwhile, Miguel kept it dapper – he and his groomsmen wore custom tuxedos styled by Van Van.

The wedding took place on Saturday, November 24, at Hummingbird Nest Ranch outside of Los Angeles and was an intimate affair that somehow, perhaps because it was right at the end of the Thanksgiving holiday, managed to fly under the radar of prying paparazzi and press. “Our wedding planner, Myra Harbour, from Celebrate Flowers and Invitations, had a huge hand in picking our venue,” Naz explains. “We described to her what we were looking for – a Spanish-style estate that we could book out for the entire weekend – and the Hummingbird Nest Ranch immediately came to mind. We saw the location and knew right away.” The traditional outdoor ceremony was led by the couple’s friend Chris Dickens, and even though it took only 30 minutes, his words perfectly blended humour and charm.

After the couple were officially pronounced husband and wife, guests were treated to a dinner of traditional Mexican food with a twist by chef Eduardo Ruiz. The couple then did their first dance to “Always and Forever” by Heatwave before everyone joined them out on the floor. The free-flowing tequila and the musical stylings of DJ Mick kept the party going all night, and at the very end, in true Cali style, an In-N-Out Burger truck pulled up to satiate any late-night cravings.